Whelan will not seek re-election, sources say

State Sen. Jim Whelan will not seek re-election to the state Senate in 2017, POLITICO New Jersey has learned.

Two sources with knowledge of Whelan’s plans confirmed to POLITICO New Jersey that Whelan plans to retire. They spoke on the condition of anonymity in advance of a formal announcement from Whelan.

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Reached by phone, Whelan refused to say if he planned to retire or seek re-election, and said he would make an announcement Wednesday during an editorial board meeting with the Press of Atlantic City. Then he plans to issue a statement.

Speculation has been rife about whether Whelan will run again. The former Atlantic City mayor was sworn into the Senate in 2008 after a two-year stint in the Assembly. His district is hotly contested every election cycle.

“I really have some stuff lined up down here locally tomorrow, and I want to respect that aspect of things,” Whelan said.

Republican Assemblyman Chris Brown is also considering running for Whelan’s seat. Although Brown hasn’t formally announced, the Atlantic City Republican Club said he was running for state Senate in an email.